Expressing passive voice with "gei"

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给 can be used in passive voice constructions. It can either directly replace or be used together with 被. Compared with 被, 给 is more colloquial and is not used in written language.

Only using 给

Structure

给 can directly replace 被 in the original passive pattern.

Receiver + 给 + The Doer + Verb Phrase

Examples

  • 他 骗 了。gěi tā piàn le.I got scammed by him.
  • 这么 好 的 机会 你 浪费 了。Zhème hǎo de jīhuì gěi nǐ làngfèi le.Such a great opportunity has been wasted by you.
  • 菜 都 你们 吃 完了 吗?Cài dōu gěi nǐmen chī wán le ma?All the food has been finished off by you guys?
  • 孩子 都 你 宠 坏 了。Háizi dōu gěi nǐ chǒng huài le.That kid is totally spoiled by you.
  • 这里 的 水 都 污染 了。Zhèlǐ de shuǐ dōu gěi wūrǎn le.The water here is all polluted.

Using 给 with 被

When using 给 in the passive voice, you can also use it with 被. In this structure 给 gives emphasis to the passive voice. You can find more information at: Advanced uses of 被.

Structure

Receiver + 被 + The Doer + 给 + Verb Phrase

Examples

  • 我 的 电脑 小明 弄坏 了。Wǒ de diànnǎo bèi Xiǎo Míng gěi nòng huài le.My computer was broken by Xiao Ming.
  • 妹妹 这个 电影 吓哭 了。Mèimei bèi zhège diànyǐng gěi xià kū le.My younger sister was scared to tears by this movie.
  • 大家 都 这个 新闻 吸引 了。Dàjiā dōu bèi zhège xīnwén gěi xīyǐn le.Everyone was attracted by the news.
  • 手机 不要 小偷 偷走 了。Shǒujī bùyào bèi xiǎotōu gěi tōu zǒu le.Don't let your cell phone get stolen by a thief.
  • 父母 说服 了,你 要 坚持 自己 的 想法。Bié bèi fùmǔ gěi shuōfú le, nǐ yào jiānchí zìjǐ de xiǎngfǎ.Don't be persuaded by parents! You need to stick to your own ideas.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries

HSK5